Big Data and Analytics Software

The journey of this product began as a mere R&D idea, and I played a pivotal role in its transformation. By leading a design workshop with key stakeholders, we set the stage for its development. From there, my team took charge of turning the concept into a fully functional and accessible product that could meet the needs of its users.

As both a player and coach, I collaborated closely with product stakeholders to define their expectations. Guiding the design team, we explored the problem space through extensive research, including studying similar product experiences, conducting user research, and comprehensive testing of prototypes. To ensure consistency and efficiency, we also built a robust design system.

Today, this product stands as one of the top offerings at Esri, having evolved from a simple R&D idea into a successful and impactful solution. The journey involved a collective effort, with my team and I playing a crucial role in its realization and ensuring its alignment with user needs and organizational goals.

Problem

• No stand-alone analytics app existed across Esri's suite, only analytic capabilities.
• No specific requirements or target audience, just a vision for an easy-to-use solution serving different customer types.
• Limited design system for data visualization types.

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Strategy

Conceptualization Process

Led workshops, guided criteria, collaborated, fostered collaboration.

• Facilitated cross-functional design workshops to encourage collaboration.
• Guided the focus on key experience criteria derived from the workshops.Collaborated on design focus areas to drive further ideation.
• Fostered cross-functional collaboration through consistent communication and feedback.
• Conducted interviews with technical experts.
• Guided the team in researching inspiring applications to gather insights

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Ideation process and Testing

Optimized ideation, collaborated with specialists, led research and holistic testing.

• Optimized the ideation process to facilitate more efficient and effective reviews.
• Collaborated closely with technical specialists to gain insights into addressing design challenges.
• Led user research and usability testing to guide the team in validating the effectiveness of design solutions.

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Design System

Delegated system audit, collaborated on new visualization patterns and guidelines.

• Directing team efforts towards creating a seamless user experience with a focus on communication flow and narrative.
• Delegated a comprehensive audit of identified improvement areas in our color ramp and visualization types.
• Collaborated with the design team to establish new visualization patterns, components, and guidelines.

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Our Initial Prototype

In the initial stages, we embarked on the development of a prototype to generate ideas and concepts related to visualization cards, data source selection, and drag-and-drop functionality for creating visualizations. However, during comprehensive testing, we identified several issues with the navigation structure, layout, and overall user experience.

To address these concerns, we iterated on the design, refining the navigation and layout to enhance the overall feel of the experience. By incorporating user feedback and testing insights, we were able to make significant improvements and create a more intuitive and seamless user interface.

For a more detailed demonstration of how this process works, I encourage you to watch the accompanying video that showcases the functionality and features of the prototype.

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Adding Data

The process of searching and adding data posed challenges due to the need to support multiple data types and provide comprehensive searching and filtering capabilities. Additionally, we aimed to accommodate metadata for users utilizing more complex data adding methods. Simplicity was key in streamlining the process of adding various types of data.

To address these challenges, we implemented a user-centric approach. We designed the system to support intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, enabling users to easily add data without unnecessary complexity. By simplifying the data adding process, we aimed to enhance the overall user experience and reduce the learning curve.

Moreover, we considered the importance of accommodating metadata for more advanced users. This allowed for a more comprehensive and robust data management system, providing flexibility and scalability as users worked with diverse and complex data sets.

By focusing on user-friendly interactions, intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, and support for metadata, we aimed to create a streamlined and user-centric data searching and adding experience.

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Data Visualizations

To effectively create various types of charts and graphs, my team delved into data visualization best practices. We sought to develop an array of visualization options, considering factors such as color, type, and attributes.

One of the challenges we encountered was determining the most efficient way to access and create visualizations. We explored different approaches, including manual clicking and drag-and-drop interactions. After careful consideration, we ultimately decided to streamline the main navigation, reducing clutter and providing users with ample screen space to focus on the visualization creation process.

By optimizing the interface to minimize distractions, we aimed to create a more immersive and productive user experience.

To gain a deeper understanding of the functionality and features, I recommend watching the accompanying video that demonstrates how this process works.

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Data Joining

The ability to edit or create new data from existing data is facilitated through the create relationships experience. This solution simplifies a complex process of joining data based on attributes and relationship types. Users can initiate the join by simply dragging and dropping elements or manually selecting them. The model presented below offers default options that can be customized to tailor the join according to specific requirements. This streamlined approach enhances the user experience by providing intuitive and efficient ways to manage data relationships.

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Creating Models

When a visualization is added to the view, it becomes an integral part of the broader analytical model. This feature allows organizations to leverage models created by other team members without the need to start from scratch, saving valuable time, resources, and ensuring accuracy. Models can be generated from templates or created on the fly, providing a means to document the analysis process. While this type of experience is typically associated with more IT-focused products, we simplified it by incorporating a smaller, inline view of the visualization within the network. This enhancement allows users to easily reference and work with the visualization within the context of the larger model. For a more detailed demonstration of how this functionality works, I recommend watching the accompanying video.

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Sharing the Analysis

My early involvement in designing the platform's reporting features played a crucial role in setting the stage for its recent enhancements. Initially conceptualized but only fully realized recently, these features include advanced report generation with diverse content types like text, images, and videos, as well as the innovative auto-recording of analysis workflows to ensure repeatability and transparency. This initial design vision, aimed at empowering users to communicate their findings clearly and confidently, has now been brought to life, marking a significant advancement in the platform’s functionality. My contributions in the foundational stages have been instrumental in shaping these developments, ensuring that the platform not only meets but exceeds user expectations for effective data storytelling.